I've almost always got a pot of soup in the refrigerator this time of year (Italian Wedding Soup currently) and there's almost always some sort of leftovers hanging about in the refrigerator as well.
Failing that, there's always raw veggies or cheese for a quick bite.
I will often cook ahead; while I've got the oven on, I might as well be roasting 2 kinds of meat to save time on another night that may be more rushed or I'll make a double batch of something and freeze half for another time.